Device for guiding and for transfer of at least two sheet metal blanks to be welded

Abstract

The present invention has as its subject a device for guiding and for transfer of at least two sheet metal blanks to be welded edge to edge. The device comprises, on the one hand, for each sheet metal blank, means (14a, 15a) for supporting the sheet metal blank along a horizontal reference plane and movable horizontally in the direction of a laser beam and means (14c, 15c) for vertical pressing of the sheet metal blank onto the support means and movable horizontally in synchronisation with the said support means for the movement by adherence of the sheet metal blanks and, on the other hand, means for maintaining in reference along a vertical plane the edge to be welded of one of the sheet metal blanks in the axis of the laser beam and means for placing under lateral pressure the edges to be welded of the two sheet metal blanks. The invention applies to installations for welding by laser beam sheet metal blanks of different geometrical shapes and/or of different thicknesses for example for the automobile industry.

I claim: 
     
       1. Device for guiding and for transfer of at least two sheet metal blanks (2, 3) to be welded edge to edge, particularly in an installation for welding by laser beam, characterised in that it comprises, on the one hand, for each sheet metal blank (2, 3), means (14a, 15a; 14b, 15b) for supporting the sheet metal blank (2, 3) along a horizontal reference plane and movable horizontally in the direction of the laser beam and means (14c, 15c; 14d, 15d) for vertical pressing of the sheet metal blank (2, 3) onto the support means (14a, 15a; 14b, 15b) and movable horizontally in synchronisation with the said support means for the movement by adherence of the sheet metal blanks (2, 3) and, on the other hand, means (20a, 20b) for maintaining in reference along a vertical plane the edge to be welded of one of the sheet metal blanks (2, 3) in the axis of the laser beam and means (20c, 20d, 25c, 25 d) for placing under lateral pressure the edges to be welded of the two sheet metal blanks (2, 3). 
     
     
       2. Device according to claim 1, characterised in that the support means are formed by a chain with articulated pads (11a, 11b) constituting an area of continuous contact with the lower surface of the corresponding sheet metal blank (2, 3) and by rollers (14a, 14b) free in rotation supporting the corresponding chain with pads (11a, 11b), the axis of rotation of the said rollers (14a, 14b) being perpendicular to the direction of movement of the chain with pads (11a, 11b) and horizontal. 
     
     
       3. Device according to claim 1, characterised in that the vertical pressure means are formed by a chain with articulated pads (11c, 11d) constituting an area of continuous contact with the upper surface of the corresponding sheet metal blank (2, 3) and by rollers (14c, 14d) free in rotation for pressing the chain with pads (11c, 11d) onto the said upper surface, the axis of rotation of the said rollers (14c, 14d) being perpendicular to the direction of movement of the chain with pads (11c, 11d) and horizontal. 
     
     
       4. Device according to claim 2 or 3, characterised in that at least three rollers (14a, 14b, 14c, 14d) are in contact simultaneously with a pad (15a, 15b, 15c, 15d) of each chain with pads (11a, 11b, 11c, 11d). 
     
     
       5. Device according to claim 2 or 3, characterised in that each chain with pads (11a, 11b, 11c, 11d) forms a loop in a plane perpendicular to the said sheet metal blanks (2, 3) and comprises means for driving in rotation. 
     
     
       6. Device according to claim 2 or 3, characterised in that the means for driving each chain with pads (11a, 11b, 11c, 11d) are formed by motive rollers (30, 31) interposed between the said support or pressing rollers (14a, 14b, 14c, 14d), at least one motive roller (30, 31) being in contact with a pad (15a, 15b, 15c, 15d). 
     
     
       7. Device according to claim 6, characterised in that the motive rollers comprise a pinion (31) meshing with a rack (32) provided on the surface of the pads (15a, 15b, 15c, 15d) opposite to the surface in contact with the sheet metal blank (2, 3). 
     
     
       8. Device according to claim 2 or 3, characterised in that each pad (15a, 15b, 15d, 15d) comprises on its surface in contact with the corresponding sheet metal blank (2, 3) a layer of a material ensuring a coefficient of friction sufficient to create adherence with the corresponding sheet metal blank, for example a polymer. 
     
     
       9. Device according to claim 1, characterised in that the means (20a, 20b) for maintaining in reference along a vertical plane the edge to be welded of one of the sheet metal blanks (2, 3) and the means (20c, 20d, 25c, 25d) for placing under lateral pressure the edges to be welded of the two sheet metal blanks (2, 3) are disposed on either side of the joint plane of the sheet metal blanks (2, 3) and each interact with one of these sheet metal blanks (2, 3). 
     
     
       10. Device according to claim 1, characterised in that the means for maintaining in reference along a vertical plane the edge to be welded of one of the sheet metal blanks (2, 3) are formed by two tracks (20a, 20b) for lateral guiding which are parallel and disposed on either side of the horizontal plane or movement of the sheet metal blanks (2, 3), each guiding track (20a, 20b) interacting, on the one hand, with a lateral surface (18a, 18c) of the pads (15a, 15c) of the corresponding chain (11a, 11c) and, on the other hand, with a vertical reference surface (23). 
     
     
       11. Device according to claim 10, characterised in that each guiding track (20a, 20b) is formed by rollers (21a, 21b) of vertical axis and free in rotation. 
     
     
       12. Device according to claim 11 characterised in that the rollers, (21a, 21b) bear against the lateral surface (18a, 18c) of the pads (15a, 15c) and are mounted on a support (22a, 22b) secured on the vertical reference surface (23). 
     
     
       13. Device according to claim 11, characterised in that the rollers (21a, 21b) are mounted directly on the pads (15a, 15c) and bear against the vertical reference surface (23). 
     
     
       14. Device according to claim 1, characterised in that the means for placing under lateral pressure the edges to be welded of the two sheet metal blanks (2, 3) are formed by two tracks (20c, 20d) for lateral guiding which are parallel and disposed on either side of the horizontal plane of movement of the sheet metal blanks (2, 3), each guiding track (20c, 20d) interacting, on the one hand, with the pads (15b, 15d) of the corresponding chain (11b, 11d) and, on the other hand, with at least one member (25c, 25d) for pushing in a direction perpendicular to the joint plane of the sheet metal blanks (2, 3). 
     
     
       15. Device according to claim 14, characterised in that each guiding track (20c, 20d) is formed by rollers (21c, 21d) of vertical axis and free in rotation. 
     
     
       16. Device according to claim 15, characterised in that the rollers (21c, 21d) are mounted directly on the pads (15b, 15d) and bear against a guide connected to the said pushing member (25c, 25d). 
     
     
       17. Device according to claim 15, characterised in that the rollers (21c, 21d) are mounted directly on the pads (15b, 15d) and bear against a guide connected to the said pushing member (25c, 25d). 
     
     
       18. Device according to claim 14, characterised in that the said pushing member (25c, 25d) is constituted by at least one jack. 
     
     
       19. Device according to claim 1, characterised in that the vertical pressure means are formed by a continuous belt in contact with the upper surface of the corresponding sheet metal blank (2, 3) and by rollers free in rotation for pressing the continuous belt onto the said upper surface, the axis of the said rollers being perpendicular to the direction of movement of the continuous belt and horizontal.